The Right to smoke.

It is not a question of giving up. But I believe if smokers want to smoke let them. Lest they kill us all with secondary smoke.

No smoking regulations are being broken blatantly with nothing much can be done to arrest the problem. True more and more places are being declared no smoking areas in many countries…
(insert graphics child right anti smoking) But we’re talking about Malaysia here…

So are smokers a bunch of “inconsiderates”? No. Smokers smoke because they have to. It’s because of the URGE.

That’s why a loving father, carrying his baby but with a cigarette dangling in his lips.Of course he knows the smoke from his cigarette is bad for his kid. And not that he doesn’t love his baby. But he smokes anyway.

Smokers know what their habit does to their health. They know about the cancer, the impotency, the what have you. Never mind the steep prices . If cancer and stroke don’t scare them what 's a few extra ringgit. Heavy penalty attached to no smoking zones is no good either.

Let's face it. Smokers want to stop smoking but they can't. So they puff everywhere passing on the fumes to be inhaled by non smokers who are told by the good doctor that secondary smoke is worst than what smokers drag into their lungs). And according to reports, more youngsters, girls and boys are picking up the habit. Preventing kids from smoking is as hard as wanting to quit smoking itself. You can bet on that.

After all kids nowadays are surrounded by "influences" -- urging them to have the urge. From parents and friends who puff right down to believing it's cool to puff.

So what should the authorities do ?.. The " Tak Nak" campaign is a failure. That we all agree. Future campaigns should be designed to prevent the smoker population from getting bigger. In short the aim of the campaign is to ensure there are no new smokers. Easier said than done you say. Indeed it is. But with the millions of ringgit available -- surely those blessed enough to be awarded contracts to run the campaign - can be counted on to deliver the goods this time.

As for current smokers, I say it again. Let them smoke instead of nagging and bugging them non stop to stop.

But in the comfort of designated areas and in the companionship of fellow smokers. You know the glass rooms found in some airports abroad?. If I am not mistaken there's one at the our very own Kota Kinabalu airport. Let's have more such rooms in shopping complex, offices, hotels.That way smokers get to satisfy their urge and they won't be hurting others in the process ( if I may repeat -- secondary smoke doctors say is worst than what the smoker inhale).

But I am not suggesting we give up on trying to get smokers off the habit. One day they will quit -- on their own free will. Like I did,after smoking 20 cigarettes per day for years.And its been more than six long years since I last lighted my last fag. Yes I quit but only after I was involved in a bad road accident on July 6 2001. I was lucky to be alive. But my five month old son was not. It took the death of my son to make me quit smoking.

AL FATIHA to Muhamad Aqil.